Building Your Own Coils vs. Purchasing Pre-Made Coils: Which Option is the Best?

Vapers need coils as an essential component of their vaping devices to heat and vaporize the e-liquid. Coils are critical for creating the vapor that users inhale, and they serve several important functions:

1.Heating Element: The coil is typically made of resistance wire, usually Kanthal, stainless steel, Nichrome, or other materials, depending on the type of vaping experience a user wants. When an electrical current passes through the coil, it generates heat, which is essential for vaporizing the e-liquid.

2.Vaporization of E-Liquid: The heat generated by the coil is transferred to the e-liquid that is soaked into a wicking material (such as cotton) surrounding the coil. As the e-liquid absorbs the heat, it turns into vapor, which can then be inhaled by the vaper.

3.Control of Temperature and Resistance: Coils come in various shapes, sizes, and resistances, allowing vapers to customize their vaping experience. Different coils can produce different amounts of vapor and flavor, and users can choose coils with specific resistance levels to control the temperature and power output of their device.

4.Coil Lifespan: Coils are consumable components that wear out over time due to the heat and chemical reactions involved in vaping. Users need to replace coils periodically to maintain the quality of their vaping experience. How often a coil needs to be replaced depends on factors like the type of coil, the e-liquid used, and how frequently the device is used.

Now, when it comes to coils, there are two choices: build your own or buy them already made (or even pre-installed into a pod or tank). We will be covering both options and weighing out their pros & cons, that way, you can decide which route is best to take.

What is Coil Building?

Coil building refers to the process of creating and installing custom coils in a rebuildable atomizer or tanks, commonly used in advanced vaping setups. These coils are typically made from resistance wire, such as Kanthal, stainless steel, or Nickel-chromium, and they are used to heat e-liquid in order to produce vapor. Here are the basic steps involved in coil building:

1.Gather Materials: You will need resistance wire, cotton or other wicking material, ceramic tweezers, wire cutters, a screwdriver or coiling tool, and an ohm meter.

2.Choose Wire: Select the type of resistance wire you want to use. Different wires have varying resistance levels and properties, which can affect the coil's performance and the vaping experience.

3.Coil Wrapping: Use a coiling tool or a screwdriver to wrap the wire into a coil shape. The number of wraps and the coil's diameter can affect the resistance and performance of the coil.

4.Mounting the Coil: Install the coil into the rebuildable atomizer's deck. This involves securing one end of the coil to a positive post and the other end to a negative post, ensuring the coil is centered and not touching any other metal parts.

5.Checking Resistance: Use an ohm meter to check the resistance of the coil. Make sure it falls within a safe range for your device and battery.

6.Wicking: Thread a piece of cotton or other wicking material through the coil, ensuring it's not too tight or too loose. Trim the excess cotton.

7.Juice Priming: Dampen the cotton with e-liquid to prime it, ensuring that it's properly saturated and ready to vaporize the e-liquid.

8.Testing: Reassemble your atomizer, attach it to your vaping device, and start at a low wattage. Gradually increase the wattage while checking for proper vapor production and flavor.

9.Fine-Tuning: You can adjust the coil's positioning, resistance, and wattage to achieve your desired vaping experience. Some vapers may also choose to build different coil configurations, such as single coils, dual coils, or more complex setups.

Why Do Vapers Coil Build and What are the Pros & Cons of It?

Coil building allows vapers to have more control over their vaping experience, as they can customize the coil's resistance, size, and material to suit their preferences. With that said, there are pros & cons to building coils.

Pros:

• Cost-Effective: Over time, building your own coils can be less expensive than buying pre-made coils, especially if you vape frequently.
• Customization: DIY coil building allows you to tailor the resistance, diameter, and type of wire, giving you control over vapor production, flavor intensity, and throat hit.
• Improved Flavor and Vapor Production: Many vapers find that custom-built coils provide a better flavor and more substantial vapor production compared to standard coils.
• Hobby and Skill Development: Coil building can be an enjoyable hobby. It provides an opportunity to learn and master a new skill, which can be satisfying and fun.
• Eco-Friendly: Building your own coils can be more environmentally friendly, as it reduces the waste associated with frequently disposing of pre-made coils.

Cons:

• Learning Curve: Building coils requires knowledge about Ohm’s law, battery safety, and coil building techniques. It can be daunting for beginners and requires time and patience to learn.
• Time-Consuming: Building coils takes time, especially when you are learning or if you are crafting complex coil designs.
• Safety Risks: Incorrectly built coils or improper handling of batteries can lead to short circuits, battery failures, or other hazardous situations. It's crucial to understand battery safety and Ohm's law.
• Initial Investment: While it may be cost-effective in the long run, the initial cost for tools (like wire cutters, tweezers, ohm meters) and materials can be relatively high.
• Inconsistency: Until you become proficient, you might experience inconsistency in your builds, which can lead to an unsatisfactory vaping experience.
• Portability and Convenience: Pre-made coils are simple to carry and replace on the go, whereas DIY coils require you to carry additional equipment and spend time building.

What are Pre-Made Coils?

Pre-made coils are ready-to-use coils designed for use in rebuildable vaping devices such as RDAs (Rebuildable Dripping Atomizers), RTAs (Rebuildable Tank Atomizers), and RDTAs (Rebuildable Dripping Tank Atomizers). These coils are pre-built, meaning they are manufactured and then wound into a specific shape, resistance, and number of wraps before being packaged for sale. This is in contrast to building your own coils, which involves manually winding wire to create a coil.

Why Do Some Vapers Choose to Buy Pre-Made Coils and What are the Pros & Cons of Doing This?

While building your own coils can be more cost-effective in the long run and offers more customization, the convenience, consistency, and ease of use of pre-made coils make them a popular choice for many vapers. But, we want to be a bit more specific in terms of pros & cons.

Pros:

• Convenience: Pre-made coils are ready to use right out of the box, saving time and effort. Users don't need to worry about building their own coils, which involves selecting the right wire, winding the coils, and ensuring they're properly installed and wicked.
• Consistency and Reliability: Pre-made coils are manufactured to specific standards and are typically subject to quality control processes. This means that they offer a consistent vaping experience with reliable performance.
• Ease of Use: For beginners or those not interested in the technical aspects of vaping, pre-made coils are an easy and straightforward option. They eliminate the learning curve associated with building coils.
• No Need for Special Tools: Building your own coils requires specific tools like wire cutters, tweezers, coil jigs, and ohm meters. Vapers who prefer not to invest in or carry these tools might find pre-made coils more convenient.
• Safety: Building coils involves understanding Ohm's law and battery safety to prevent dangerous situations like short circuits or overheating. Pre-made coils reduce these risks as they are designed to work safely within the specifications of compatible devices.
• Variety and Experimentation: Manufacturers offer a wide range of pre-made coils with different resistances and designs, allowing users to experiment with different vaping experiences without having to build the coils themselves.

Cons:

• Cost-Effectiveness: Pre-made coils can be more expensive in the long run compared to building your own coils, especially for frequent vapers or users. The upfront cost of materials for DIY coil building might be higher, but it often works out to be cheaper per coil.
• Customization Limitations: When you buy pre-made coils, you're limited to the resistances, wire types, and coil configurations that manufacturers offer. Building your own coils, on the other hand, allows you to tailor every aspect of the coil to your specific preferences and needs.
• Dependency on Availability: If you rely on a specific type of pre-made coil, you might find yourself in a bind if the manufacturer discontinues the product, faces supply issues, or if there are shipping delays. Building your own coils means you're not at the mercy of external factors for your supply.
• Potential for Lower Quality: While many pre-made coils are of high quality, there's always the risk of receiving a batch with defects or inconsistency in performance. When you build your own coils, you have complete control over the quality and inspection of each coil you make.
• Limited Knowledge and Skill Development: Relying on pre-made coils doesn't provide the opportunity to learn and understand the intricacies of coil building, which can be a rewarding skill and deepen your understanding of your device's performance characteristics.
• Waste and Environmental Considerations: Pre-made coils often come in individual packaging, contributing to more waste compared to the minimal packaging of wire spools and cotton for DIY coil building. If you're environmentally conscious, building your own coils might align better with your values.
• Satisfaction and Hobby Aspect: For many, the process of building coils is a hobby and a point of pride. Using pre-made coils might deprive you of the satisfaction and enjoyment that comes from creating something with your own hands.

Which Coil Option Will You Choose?

Bottom line, coils in vaping devices have a crucial role in heating and vaporizing e-liquid, allowing vapers to enjoy the flavors and sensations associated with vaping. They are a fundamental component of most vaping setups and require regular maintenance and replacement to ensure a consistent and enjoyable vaping experience. The choice then between coil building and buying already assembled coils comes down to both vaping experience and overall preference.